Boxlike dispenser



Aug. 25, 1964 L. A. WRIGHT 3,145,840

BOXLIKE DISPENSER Filed May 9, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. LAWRENCE A.WR|GHT M/W W ATTO R NEY L. A- WRIGHT BOXLIKE DISPENSER Aug. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9, 1963 INVENTOR. LAWRENCE A.WRIGHT 44' 21 t 2 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,145,840 BOXLIKE DISPENSER Lawrence A. Wright, 40241 Fairway Drive, Northville, Mich. Filed May 9, 1963, Ser. No. 279,075 3 Claims. (Cl. 206-57) This invention relates generally to boxlike dispensers from which mechandise of various kinds may be dispensed, and refers more particularly to boxlike containers from which interfolded sheets of tissue paper and the like may be dispensed.

One of the essential objects of the invention is to provide a boxlike dispenser that is divided horizontally substantially midway between the top and bottom thereof to provide upper and lower sections opening toward one another and having adjacent edges, and that is provided between the adjacent edges of said sections throughout the perimeter thereof with a severable connection for initially holding the upper section in raised position relative to the lower section.

Another object is to provide a boxlike dispenser wherein the top of the upper section is provide with an opening through which the contents of the dispenser may be dispensed and through which the height of the contents of the dispenser may be observed for the purpose of determining when the connection aforesaid should be severed.

Another object is to provide a boxlike dispenser wherein the upper section is slightly larger in area-than the lower section, so that when the connection aforesaid is severed, the upper section may slide downwardly upon the lower section while the contents of the dispenser is being dispensed.

Another object is to provide a boxlike dispenser wherein the upper section, when free of the lower section, is operable as a follower for the contents of the dispenser while such contents is being dispensed, and is operable to eliminate any excess space above such contents while it is being dispensed. a

Another object is to provide a boxlike dispenser wherein the contents thereof will be more accessible through the opening in the top of the upper section when the upper section slides downwardly relative to the lower section.

Another object is to provide a boxlike dispenser wherein the upper section when in substantially fully lowered position relative to the lower section serves as a silent reminder to the user that the contents of the dispenser is low and should be replenished.

Another object is to provide a boxlike dispenser that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and efficient in use.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a boxlike dispenser filled with interfolded sheets of tissue paper, and showing parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the boxlike dispenser partially filled with interfolded sheets of tissue paper, and showing parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the boxlike dispenser after the connection between the upper and lower sections thereof has been severed, and showing the upper section in substantially fully lowered position relative to the lower section, with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a slightly modified form of connection between the upper and lower sections of the boxlike dispenser.

Referring now to the drawings, A is a boxlike dispenser 3,145,840 Patented Aug. 25, 1964 embodying my invention. As shown, this dispenser A comprises a boxlike container 9 that is preferably formed from cardboard and contains a stack of interfolded sheets 10 of tissue paper.

Preferably the container 9 is divided horizontally substantially midway between the top and bottom thereof to provide upper and lower sections 11 and 12 respectively opening toward one another and having their edges 13 and 14 respectively adjacent one another, and is provided between the adjacent edges of said sections throughout the perimeter thereof with a severable connection B for initially holding the upper section 11 in raised position relative to the lower section 12.

The top 15 of the upper section 11 is provided with an opening 16 through which the sheets 10 of tissue paper may be dispensed and through which the height of the sheets 10 of tissue paper within the container may be observed for the purpose of determining when the connection B aforesaid should be severed.

As shown, the upper section 11 is slightly larger in area than the lower section 12, so that when the connection B aforesaid is severed, the upper section 11 may slide downwardly upon the lower section 12 while the stack of interfolded sheets 10 of tissue paper are being dispensed.

Preferably the severable connection B for initially holding the upper section 11 in raised position relative to the lower section 12, as shown in FIGURE 1, comprises a horizontally extending fragile strip or tape 17 of suitable material such as plastic material or paper and a single thread or rip cord 18 of suitable material such as nylon for severing or cutting the strip or tape 17.

As shown, the strip or tape 17 overlaps and is attached to the upper and lower sections 11 and 12 respectively of the container at the adjacent edges 13 and 14 thereof, and extends throughout the perimeter of said container, and the thread 18 for severing or cutting the strip or tape extends throughout the length of the strip or tape 17 upon the inner side thereof substantially midway between the upper and lower edges thereof. An end portion 19 of such thread 18 projects freely from the strip or tape 17, preferably at one corner of the container, to be grasped by the user when it is desired to pull the thread to sever the connection between the upper and lower sections 11 and 12 respectively of the container.

In FIGURE 5, I have shown a slight modification wherein the severable connection C for initially holding the upper section 11 in raised position relative to the lower section 12' comprises a lateral flange 29 that extends horizontally between and is integral with the upper and lower sections 11 and 12 respectively of the container at the adjacent edges thereof, and that extends throughout the perimeter of said container, and a series of longitudinally spaced perforations 21 extending vertically through said flange 20 throughout its length. Thus the upper and lower sections 11 and 12 may be released from one another by severing the flange 20 along the series of perforations 21.

In use, the interfolded sheets 10 of tissue paper may be removed one at a time from the container through the opening 16 in the top 15 of the upper section 11. When the user observes through the opening 16 that the stack of interfolded sheets 10 of tissue paper is lower, as shown in FIGURE 2, then the free end portion 19 of the thread 18 is pulled to sever the connection B between the upper and lower sections 11 and 12 respectively of the container, or the flange 20 is severed along the series of perforations 21, depending upon which form the severable connection is employed in the construction of the container. The upper section 11 is then free of the lower section 12 and is adapted to slide downwardly upon the lower section 12 until the top 15 of the upper section 11 reaches the uppermost sheet 10 of tissue paper. Thereafter, such upper section 11 serves as a follower for the sheets of tissue paper while they are being dispensed, and eliminates automatically any excess space above such sheets of tissue paper while they are being dispensed. Thus, the sheets 10 of tissue paper will be more accessible through the opening 16 in the top of the upper section 11 while said upper section slides downwardly relative to the lower section 12. When the upper section 11 reaches substantially fully lowered position relative to the lower section 12, as shown in FIGURE 3, such upper section 11 serves as a silent remainder to the user that the supply of sheets 10 of tissue paper within the container is low and should be replenished.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A boxlike dispenser, comprising a container divided horizontally substantially midway between the top and bottom thereof to provide upper and lower sections opening toward one another and having adjacent edges, the top of the upper section having an opening through which the contents of the container may be dispensed, said upper section being larger in area than said lower section whereby the edges of said upper section are located outwardly relative to the edges of said lower section, and a connec tion between said upper and lower sections at the adjacent edges thereof for initially holding said upper section in raised position relative to said lower section, said connection being severable to permit said upper section to slide downwardly upon said lower section while the contents of the container is being dispensed, said severable connection including a fragile strip extending horizontally of, overlapping and attached to said upper and lower sections at the adjacent edges thereof and extending throughout the perimeter of said container, and a single thread for severing said strip extending throughout the length of said strip upon the inner side thereof, said thread being located substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of said strip and having an accessible free end portion.

2. A boxlike dispenser, comprising a container divided horizontally substantially midway between the top and bottom thereof to provide upper and lower sections opening toward one another and having adjacent edges, the top of the upper section having an opening through which the contents of the container may be dispensed, said upper section being larger in area than said lower section whereby the edges of said upper section are located outwardly relative to the edges of said lower section, and a connection between said upper and lower sections at the adjacent edges thereof for initially holding said upper section in raised position relative to said lower section, said connection being severable to permit said upper section to slide downwardly upon said lower section while the contents of the container is being dispensed, said severable connection including a lateral flange extending horizontally between said upper and lower sections at the adjacent edges thereof and extending throughout the perimeter of said container, said lateral flange being provided throughout its length with a series of longitudinally spaced perforations extending vertically therethrough.

3. A boxlike dispenser, comprising a container divided horizontally substantially midway between the top and bottom thereof to provide upper and lower sections opening toward one another and having adjacent edges, the top of the upper section having an opening through which the contents of the container may be dispensed, said upper section being larger in area than said lower section whereby the edges of said upper section are located outwardly relative to the edges of said lower section, and a connection between said upper and lower sections at the adjacent edges thereof for initially holding said upper section in raised position relative to said lower section, said connection being severable to permit said upper section to slide downwardly upon said lower section while the contents of the container is being dispenser, said severable connection including a relatively narrow member extending horizontally of and attached to said upper and lower sections at the adjacent edges thereof and extending throughout the perimeter of said container, said relatively narrow member being provided throughout its length with means by which is may be severed lengthwise thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,005,083 Tansey Oct. 3, 1911 1,116,752 Stolk Nov. 15, 1914 1,837,784 Luckett Dec. 22, 1931 2,024,418 Aughney Dec. 12, 1935 2,082,765 Krueger June 1, 1937 2,355,127 White Aug. 8, 1944 3,105,592 Cohen Oct. 1, 1963 

1. A BOXLIKE DISPENSER, COMPRSING A CONTAINER DIVIDED HORIZONTALLY SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE TOP AND BOTTOM THEREOF TO PROVIDE UPPER AND LOWER SECTIONS OPENING TOWARD ONE ANOTHER AND HAVING ADJACENT EDGES, THE TOP OF THE UPPER SECTION HAVING AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH THE CONTENTS OF THE CONTAINER MAY BE DISPENSED, SAID UPPER SECTION BEING LARGER IN AREA THAN SAID LOWER SECTION WHEREBY THE EDGES OF SAID UPPER SECTION ARE LOCATED OUTWARDLY RELATIVE TO THE EDGES OF SAID LOWER SECTION, AND A CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND LOWER SECTIONS AT THE ADJACENT EDGES THEREOF FOR INITIALLY HOLDING SAID UPPER SECTION IN RAISED POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID LOWER SECTION, SAID CONNECTION BEING SEVERABLE TO PERMIT SAID UPPER SECTION TO SLIDE DOWNWARDLY UPON SAID LOWER SECTION WHILE THE CONTENTS OF THE CONTAINER IS BEING DISPENSED, SAID SEVERABLE CONNECTION INCLUDING A FRAGILE STRIP EXTENDING HORIZONTALLY OF, OVERLAPPING AND ATTACHED TO SAID UPPER AND LOWER SECTIONS AT THE ADJACENT EDGES THEREOF AND EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE PERIMETER OF SAID CONTAINER, AND A SINGLE THREAD FOR SEVERING SAID STRIP EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF SAID STRIP UPON THE INNER SIDE THEREOF; SAID THREAD BEING LOCATED SUBSTANTIALLY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER EDGES OF SAID STRIP AND HAVING AN ACCESSIBLE FREE END PORTION. 